Catch a gondola high into the mountains with Skyline Stargazing and enjoy picking out constellations through the lenses of telescopes. "This means that it is possible to get lovely images of the aurora over mountains or capture its reflection on lakes and rivers, which are common in this part of the world.".
There's a major astronomical event on the horizon. The dark night sky and the bright dancing colours of the Aurora Australis make the night memorable for a long time to come. "On a good auroral night, you can get lovely views from a lookout near the center of Oban, the main town.". Away from the main cities, the county's velvety black skies are a milky swirl of celestial galaxies. I hereby accept the Privacy Policy and authorize Thomascook to contact me. If your bucket list does include stargazing, then we highly recommend making a visit to the Aoraki National Park. At Tekapo are the Mt. Elen Turner is a New Zealand resident who covers the country for TripSavvy.
South Island New Zealand has some of the best spots to view the night sky.However, it you want to get the most from your experience you should head to Lake Tekapo.Lake Tekapo is in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.It is the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of only eight in the world! In. “It is very easy to get away from bright city lights and find a dark location from where you can enjoy lovely views of the night sky.”, Many people go their whole lives without seeing a shooting star overhead. Dark skies -- 22 best places in the world to stargaze, Stargazing in the desert: The magic of Namibia's night skies, World's 10 most scenic airport approaches in 2017.
May is not the most popular month to be in the country, but if you want to avoid the crowds, it can still be the best time to visit New Zealand. The path is lit up with torches but they all have a red filter so as to not disturb the wildlife. In addition to clear skies, the old-fashioned town also lures adventurous types to its Victorian century architecture -- remnants of its days as a gold rush town in the 1800s. Roughly 85% of the island is covered by Rakiura National Park, so there's lots to do during the day -- travelers can hike, kayak, fish or dive. There are no guided tours in the park and you are welcome to roam around here 24 hours a day.
This is a good option for travelers who want to stargaze but who don't have time to travel far from Auckland.
"I have watched an aurora wearing shorts and sandals, something that only the most hardy Northern Hemisphere observer can do.". Here you can join the night tour at the observatory up there and also make use of the country’s most powerful telescope to spot up to 50 million stars. This means there are much larger areas of dark sky here.
"During the day you can gawp at the incredible wildlife, which includes two varieties of penguin and an albatross colony.". I would like to be kept informed of special Promotions and offers.
Farther south down the coastline, between Dunedin and Invercargill, the Catlins region is known for its thundering waterfalls, dense forests and rugged coastlines. "Always plan your visit to coincide with the time of the month called 'dark of the moon,'" says Griffin. Here,Griffin shares his favorite places to observe the Milky Way and Southern Lights, which are most prominent from March to September: Home to the world's largest dark-sky reserve -- the. Covering much of the Aoraki/Mount Cook Mackenzie region, the Dark Sky Reserve has been labelled as one of the best stargazing sites on Earth. "Compared to the Northern Hemisphere aurora viewing locations -- where the aurora often passes overhead -- here in New Zealand, the aurora is often relatively low in the southern sky," he explains. Here’s what you need to know about stargazing in New Zealand. To view cookie details and how to opt-out, please see our Cookie Policy.
The island is home to the Rakiura National Park, and many people opt for the night tour which brings out a whole lot of nocturnal creatures, including the now-endangered local flightless bird, the kiwi. "The southernmost of New Zealand's islands is an astounding place for viewing the aurora," says Griffin. Away from the main settlements on the central-south east coast (from Christchurch to Dunedin), as well as Invercargill, Nelson, and Queenstown/Wanaka, the skies in the South Island are almost completely dark. Comprising of seven states, and popularly known as ‘Seven Sisters’ of India, North East is a perfect destination
When it comes down to it, the opportunities for stargazing in New Zealand are endless, so what are you waiting for!? Everyone knows about the Aurora Borealis, the northern lights, but not much has been said or written about the southern counterpart. New Zealand is a sparsely populated country with few big cities and large expanses of wilderness and uninhabited land. Find airfares.
To maximise your chances, aim for a clear winter's night sky close to a new moon in either July or August. The best time to go stargazing tends to be during New Zealand's winter -- from March to September -- when the Milky Way is prominent and the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) appear in … Whichever season you’re planning to go, pack some warm clothes for outdoor stargazing.
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Witness the stunning Southern Lights and the world’s best views of the Milky Way, New Zealand boasts many beautiful stargazing sites.
But after the long summer days, dark winter nights provide an idyllic setting for galactic views. New Zealand is a nature lover’s paradise, and the sheer number of natural parks and sanctuaries is amazing.
Reserves consist of a core area meeting minimum criteria for sky quality and natural darkness, and a peripheral area that supports dark sky preservation in the core.”.
The 15 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand, 20 RV Campsites and Dark Sky Parks for Stargazing, How to Plan a Trip to New Zealand with Kids, New Zealand by Car: The Scenic Journey From Christchurch to Queenstown, Learn All About New Zealand's Wine Regions, The Most Important Historic Sites in New Zealand, The Complete Guide to New Zealand's Stewart Island, A Complete Guide to New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands, Use These Tips to Plan Your Stargazing Road Trip, Your Trip to New Zealand: The Complete Guide, Tripsavvy uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. This is the nearest star system to Earth (just 4.22 light-years away!). You exceed the OTP limit. It can be seen with the naked eye. During the months of June and July, the Matariki star cluster reappears above the horizon, ushering in a new year according to the Māori lunar calendar. As the Aoraki Mackenzi Dark Sky Reserve covers such a large area, there are many places where visitors could potentially enjoy the views at night. They are believed to be the closest galaxies to ours, situated 170,000 light years away. The top 5 stargazing spots include Mt John in Tekapo, Twizel, the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park—all three are parts of Dark Sky Reserve.
Stargazing is only possible when the skies are free of clouds, and because the tiny towns within the reserve are a long way from anywhere, it’s best to spend a few days around the reserve. And for star-crossed travelers who love to plan ahead? Identical to the Northern Lights, this phenomenon is caused by the collision of atoms and energy-charged particles above the North and South Poles. What this means is that there is no light pollution around it, making it possibly the best place in New Zealand to see the night sky in all its beauty. John is the most expensive one at $175. "The town is seeking to become certified as a dark sky reserve, which means if you visit you won't be troubled by bright streetlights," says Griffin. The best time to enjoy a spot of serious stargazing in Queenstown is in winter. Thank you for showing interest in speaking to us. Recently, 4,300 square kilometres of New Zealand’s South Island was recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest reserve of this type worldwide. Recently, 4,300 square kilometres of New Zealand’s South Island was recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest reserve of this type worldwide. New Zealand’s natural appeal is known to all, as the country lays out its charm in plenty. Alpha Centauri A, Alpha Centauri B, and Proxima Centauri, which appear as a single star to the naked eye, but can be seen as three separate stars through a telescope.
Your request for OTP will be sent to registered email id and mobile number, if not registered please do the same. The drive offers some of the most spectacular scenery in Aotearoa New Zealand - we recommend allowing plenty of time to stop and take it all in! Unfortunately, all this makes the Tongariro Crossing one of New Zealand’s busiest walking tracks.
But the most stunning discovery is two galaxies represented by the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. It is comprised of millions of stars, which are so far from the Earth that cannot be seen separately, but only as a faint starry arc-shaped light path which stretches from the north-east to south-east horizons. By using Tripsavvy, you accept our.